Precious Little Gem Of Guilford

It was at a holiday party last December that we (my honey and I) were engaged in a deep conversation with our dear foodie-pals Amy and Ryan. The topic of discussion was: great pizza in Connecticut. Of course famous New Haven based legends like Pepe’s, Modern Apizza and Bar came up. We concurred that each is amazing in their own special way. But then Amy and Ryan told us about Bufalina in Guilford. A must try, they said. Twist our arm, we said.

A cozy little spot with just a handful of seats, Bufalina is one of those hidden gems that the locals know all about and the out-of-towners can’t stop talking about. If you are planning a drive all the way from Fairfield county, I highly recommend you make a reservation first. And if you do- make that call a few days in advance because chances of getting a table the day-of are super slim. Yep! That’s how popular this place is.

I loved the super cute building and it’s warm and cozy interior. The four smiling faces that greeted us as soon as we walked in confirmed our instinct that this was well-worth the trip. Our table was ready and waiting for us….. and we immediately settled into the cosy spot by the window with its great vantage point of the the restaurant.

The owners, Matt and Melissa, traveled and worked in kitchens all over Italy. They wanted to master the art of cooking with fire in rustic brick ovens. And that’s the precise skill set on display each and every day at Bufalina.

The menu, like this place, is “cozy”. Simple and small with just a handful of pizza and salad options. The size of the menu makes you realize that each and every item here is well-thought out and meant to be there. Matt and Melissa have picked their favorite flavor profiles from their adventures through Italy and created this special menu. Just knowing that - is knowing that it is as authentic as any pizza experience can get.

Each day, they offer a couple of specials. We were amazed to hear that by 6 PM - they were all out of their specials of the day. By the way - note that the restaurant opens for business around 4:30 PM. Yep! That’s how popular this place is!

Sitting at the cutest little window seat, we watched the well-choreographed and well-executed service of the evening. As soon as some seats cleared up - the next guests had already arrived, ready and waiting to be seated. It was like clockwork! When you get a reservation at Bufalina - trust me, you don’t want to be late.

There were lively conversations all around. The space was filled with a general sense of contentment and bliss in this simple pleasure of pizza-eating. The take-out orders were coming in and being picked-up constantly by a steady stream of visitors. It was non-stop action all evening. And Matt and Melissa, along with their team, were making it all happen, happily, like never-tiring energizer bunnies! Yep, That’s how popular this place is.

It seemed like everyone who came in was a regular. And even though it was our first visit- we were greeted the same way. The pizza was divine! Super flavorful toppings. The perfect crust with the right balance of chew and char. It is clear that the toppings are chosen, with great care, for their taste and superior quality. What more can I say - I just loved everything about this gem.

Bufalina is BYOB. So have fun with the experience. You’ll hear stories of people bringing in their coolers full of ingredients to make margaritas. We took our favorite bottle of single malt scotch! Hey! To each his own.